I ARTS he Michigan Daily U p Tuesday, December 13, 1988 Page 8 'What finals?': Music to shirk by ive-legged Dogma walks varied path Chenilles in harmony on, off stage 14 ~B JIM PONIEWOZIK The big problem when describing a knew band is to try to figure out what ~other band they sound like. .. The big problem when describig Walk the Dogma is to try to figure :out w/hether they even sound like themselves. ' The reason: five members, five songwriters, and five sets of influ- :ences. With the Detroit band's mem- nbers boasting influences stretching from Jefferson Airplane to Bach and back again to XTC, the Dogma de- fiver a League of Nations approach to their music that serves as a vivid re- minder of just how broad the term '"rock" actually is. And their egalitar- ianism extends to their interviews, ~ Our motto's been, 'If you don't ~like this tune, just wait three mm- ~utes -"'" says drummer Kerry ~Gluckman, over lemon chicken soup at Frank's Restaurant. A A Dire ~ Musi Dec SA'. F0r) BY MARY CHINNI TEY sang with the Persuasions, appeared twice on Garrison Kellor's Prairie Home Companion, and per- formed live on Kelly & Company. Recently opening for the Nylons, performing for a crowd of 35,000, an area music critic claimed that, had they performed longer then their 35-minute warmup set, they would have stolen the show. Success at such a wide variety of concert engage- ments attests to the Chenille Sisters' talent and appeal. The female vocal trio continually captivates audiences with its mesmerizing harmonies, offbeat humor, and funky stage dress. Offstage, they are just as successful. Their first album, The Chenille Sisters, sold more copies on its first day of sales at Schoolkids' records than any other album in the store's history. Critics struggle to define them. An eclectic, hybrid folk group? A cross between the Supremes and the Roches with a little Bette Midler humor thrown in? How about Lily Tomlin in triplicate, plus musical ac- companiment?.,, "We haven't really come up with a good definition," says Chenille Sister Grace Morand. "We're going to let other people do that." "I don't think we really know," adds second Che- 'We jus defy description," concludes sister number three, Cheryl Dawdy. One thing's for sure - these women can sing. Re- cipients of two 1986 Metro Times Music Awards and another from the Washtcnaw Council for the Arts, their harmonies are so tight, as one critic says, you don't know that they're harmonies. Their diverse repertoire consists of old swing tunes, pop favorites, and folki hits. They also write their own music and find songs by rumang houghc agarage sales, second-hand Along with reviving old songs and writing newi ones, the Chenilles also adapt their own lyrics to con- temporary pop tunes. Creedence Clearwater's "Bad Moon Rising" becomes "Bathroom on the Right," and The Bangles' "Walk Like An Egyptian" becomes "Walk Like a Beautician." They turned Tina Turner's "What's Love Got to Do With It" into "What's Chub Got To Do with It," and added their own aerobic-eating routine complete with "eat and reach exercises." The Chenilles' sense of humor is an important part of their performances. Their stage costumes, consisting of anything from '40s vintage dresses to miniskirts and clam diggers, would leave Cyndy Lauper speechlesse. Their jokes, directed primarily at themselves, ard satirical but not biting. Their between-song banter and skits break down the barrier that typically exists be- tween the performer and his audience. "I hope you all like each other," Grace tells the aul dience during one Ark performance, "you sure do have to sit close together." Last year during their first solo concert at the Power Center, the trio opened with a so- licitation for the "Jill Rogers Institute." Beginning with a slide show (of themselves, of course), they re- count he sor of Jil o w hon deiae ei f ter revealing that she had never spent any of the money, the lights went back on and ushers walked through the audience distributing pennies. See Chenil1es, Page 9" I Fast-rising Detroit band Walk the Dogma displays their rough and ready pose. Don't worry; they're not as tough as they loo k. -- then they can get up and go to the john," interjects guitarist Muicby Leonard Bernstein Betty Comden & Adolph Green cted by Mary Ann Stevenson cal Director: Robert Pazur ember 14-17, 1988-8 p.m. Matlnee-2 p.m. AT THE LYDIA MENDELSSOHN THEATRE Icket Information, Call 662-7282 George Schuster. '"So it keeps a re- ally regular circulation to the re- str-mthi is a democracy," finishes lead singer Asta Jurgutis. 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Your friends may leave town early for the holidays but 76-GUIDE will be here throughout the long haul ~113 11131 I444444444N4*1444l4444444444444444444~44 444~44444~.4d44444A44d44444444dd44A44 4ddddAA*A~d~AaAA~a .........................................................................*..*....w*******w*u..*... ...n.. Monday-Friday 5:OOprn-9:OOarn Saturday-Sunday 24 hrs Guide will be closed from 9:00 a.m. Friday, December 23 through 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 3. Soneasr by CoLonAIin1 srice Disneyland congratulates the Wolverines on a terrific season! And we want to make your visit to Southern California even more exciting. Come take time out and see all the holiday fun Disneyland hqs to offer. Celebrate Roger Rabbit's 1st Christmas at Disneyland, every day through January 2! < Meet him in person at Roger Rabbit's Christmas Village and see the all-new Roger Rabbit And The Christmas Factory stage show! Plus! The Very Merry Christmas Parade! Dickens Carolers! And all the great Disneyland attractions, too! And kick off the New Year right, with Disneyland's spectacular New Year's Eve P.rt... ~~ featuring to name entertainment and a Mid- night Fireworks Spectacular! + If you have a 2-year associate degree, you can upgrade it to a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with 2 more years of practical, specialized study at Cleary College. In fact, most students in this situation can earn a BBA in less than 2 years. Cleary offers academic credit for work and life experiernce related to the BBA program. Best of all, Cleary's broad selection of courses allows you to design a course of study that meets your specific requirements. Call the Admissions Office today for more information on BBA's in: General Business / Managemernt / Accounting / Business Computer Systems Executive Secretarial 4 Starring THE JETS special Guest star LOU RAWLS Also Starring JOHNNY KEMP TEX BENEKE & HIS ~ ORCHESTRA Tickets available at the J"\ - . 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